VITALITY ROSES LIFT NATIONS CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME

In their sixth Vitality Netball Nations Cup final, a young Vitality Roses squad came out victorious, beating South Africa 61-55 at the Copper Box Arena.

The tournament, also featuring Malawi and Uganda, took place over successive weekends in February in Nottingham and London and was a brilliant advert for the sport. South Africa, ranked fifth in the world, had won the Africa Netball Cup in December, and just come off the back of a three-test series against Jamaica, while Uganda were ranked sixth in the world and Malawi, who faced the British Army netball team in a warm-up match ahead of the series, were ranked seventh.

VITALITY ROSES V MALAWI QUEENS

Following a 75-40 victory for South Africa over the Uganda She Cranes, a match which saw umpire Gary Burgess officiate his 150th international match, the Vitality Roses beat the Malawi Queens 62-36.

Debutant Paige Reed scored early and combined seamlessly with Liv Tchine to build a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, which was extended to seven goals at half-time, at 31-24. The second half saw the home team ramp up the pressure, with Emma Thacker debuting after Tchine sustained an injury, leaving two debutants in the shooting circle.

The lead at the three quarter-mark was ten but the Vitality Roses then pulled away in awesome style, winning the final quarter 20-4.

Paige Reed was named the Vitality Player of the Match, saying: “It’s something that I’ve dreamed of ever since I stepped onto a netball court and the fact that I’m here right now genuinely feels so surreal.”

Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby added: “I’m really proud of everyone’s contribution. I thought Razia really led from the back and those that came in really added something. Given that we have got some less

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experienced players coming in, I think they pleasantly surprised themselves, so hopefully they’ll believe in each other as much as I believe in them.

“In quite a short space of time I think the attacking connections were quite pleasing tonight. We’ve invested a lot of time to build their confidence and clarity on the structures, so I think there was a lot for us to work with tonight to build on for tomorrow.”

Vitality Roses starting seven: Razia Quashie (GK), Funmi Fadoju (GD), Beth Cobden (WD), Ellie Rattu (C), Jess Shaw (WA), Paige Reed (GA), Liv Tchine (GS).

VITALITY ROSES V SOUTH AFRICA SPAR PROTEAS

The second day in Nottingham saw Malawi beat Uganda 60-45 before the Proteas inflicted a 61-59 defeat on the Vitality Roses. This was the 70th match between the two nations, England having won 52 and South Africa 17, with one draw.

In a lively start to the game, South Africa built an early five-goal lead, but the Vitality Roses closed the gap with Tchine bringing the scores level at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The next two quarters saw the two teams trade goals evenly, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. At half-time the score was 30-30 and entering the final quarter, there was still nothing between the two sides, the score tied at 46-46.

South African defensive pressure saw them take a six-goal lead in the final quarter and despite some brilliant play at both ends of the court, the home side could not quite close the gap when the game ended.

Vitality Player of the Match Sanmarie Visser said: “We knew what we would be up against when we came here. We had a good game plan, and it means so much for us to come here and beat England on their home ground.”

Vitality Roses starting seven: Razia Quashie (GK), Fran Williams (GD), Beth Cobden (WD), Imogen Allison (C), Jess Shaw (WA), Paige Reed (GA), Liv Tchine (GS).

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VITALITY ROSES V UGANDA SHE CRANES

With the action moving to the Copper Box in London the following weekend, the Vitality Roses knew they had to beat the Uganda She Cranes to make the final.

South Africa started things off by booking their spot in Sunday’s final with a 58-55 victory over the Malawi Queens.

The Vitality Roses then secured their place alongside the Proteas with a 59-48 victory. Halimat Adio was named the Vitality Player of the Match after entering the game late on and proving to be the difference-maker England needed, picking up three gains and sparking a critical change in momentum.

The opening half saw little between the two sides, with a high level of physicality. The injection of Funmi Fadoju provided a lift in energy, but Uganda refused to buckle and they headed into half time with the scores level at 42-42. Head Coach Jess Thirlby made a host of changes in the second half with Alicia Scholes, Berri Neil, Zara Everitt and Adio all being brought on.

The changes worked and the Vitality Roses started to win more ball and extend their lead, running out 59-48 winners in the end.

Thirlby said: “I really trusted in the girls that wanted their opportunity today and I thought, in the main, it was a great team performance. Was it sticky in patches? Of course, but we’re trying to enjoy that and find the moments of joy through that. So there was lots to be really positive about and it was lovely to be able to pull away at the end and see that impact come as the game played out.”

Vitality Roses starting seven: Razia Quashie (GK), Fran Williams (GD), Ellie Rattu (WD), Amy Carter (C), Jess Shaw (WA), Paige Reed (GA), Liv Tchine (GS).

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FINAL

VITALITY ROSES V SOUTH AFRICA SPAR PROTEAS

The Vitality Roses put their defeat to the same opposition seven days before firmly behind them as they swept to their first Vitality Netball Nations Cup win. Before the main event, the Uganda She Cranes defeated the Malawi Queens 50-45 to end up third.

And then, in a nail-biting encounter, the Vitality Roses withstood significant pressure, running out 61-55 winners. The Proteas went 15-12 up in the first quarter but Fadoju, whose place in the starting seven meant captain Fran Williams started on the bench, inspired her team with six deflections, six interceptions and six gains in a Vitality Player of the Match performance to turn the tide.

The Proteas temporarily went down to six players in the third quarter after a suspension was handed out by the umpires, but were only three goals behind going into the final quarter.

A calm and controlled last 15 enabled the Vitality Roses to extend their lead and dampen hopes of a fightback.

Tchine was named the Vitality Player of the Series after scoring 49 goals with 100% accuracy in the final. Her record in the entire tournament was 151 goals from 159 shots, giving her an exceptional 95% success rate.

Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby said: “We really had to earn that win, real credit to South Africa. It was always set up to be a brilliant final and it’s the type of match we need to be in. It wasn’t pretty at times, but we’ve got to find joy in the grind, and I think we did that pretty well.”

Vitality Roses starting seven: Razia Quashie (GK), Funmi Fadoju (GD), Beth Cobden (WD), Imogen Allison (C), Jess Shaw (WA), Paige Reed (GA), Liv Tchine (GS).